BIB_ID
430316
Accession number
MA 1617.2
Creator
Archer, William, 1856-1924.
Display Date
London, England, 1887 November 30.
Credit line
Purchased as the gift of Edwin J. Beinecke, 1955.
Description
1 item (3 pages) ; 17.7 x 11.1 cm
Notes
This letter is one of six letters from William Archer to W.E. Henley (MA 1617.1-6) and part of large collection of manuscripts and letters written by and to William Ernest Henley.
Written from "16 John St / Bedford Row."
Archer's questions about the identities of various characters refers to an Essay by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Talk and Talkers" published in the Cornhill Magazine in April & August 1882 in which Spring-Heel'd Jack refers to Stevenson's cousin, 'Bob' Stevenson, Athelred was Walter Simpson, 'Opalstein' was John Addington Symonds, Burly was W. E. Henley, and a character named Purcel (not mentioned in this letter) was Edmund Gosse.
The reference to "Dorian" is to one of three plays co-authored by Henley & R. L. Stevenson, Beau Austin, Deacon Brodie and Admiral Guinea.
Written from "16 John St / Bedford Row."
Archer's questions about the identities of various characters refers to an Essay by Robert Louis Stevenson, "Talk and Talkers" published in the Cornhill Magazine in April & August 1882 in which Spring-Heel'd Jack refers to Stevenson's cousin, 'Bob' Stevenson, Athelred was Walter Simpson, 'Opalstein' was John Addington Symonds, Burly was W. E. Henley, and a character named Purcel (not mentioned in this letter) was Edmund Gosse.
The reference to "Dorian" is to one of three plays co-authored by Henley & R. L. Stevenson, Beau Austin, Deacon Brodie and Admiral Guinea.
Provenance
Purchased as the gift of Edwin J. Beinecke, 1955.
Summary
Saying "Voila! I like your confounded assurance in talking of my remark about the moustache; it was your remark - and unless I am very much mistaken so was the muddle between the blue & the red room - what a color blind lot we must be! I have written to the infuriated victims throwing the whole blame on you, and assuring them that if blood must flow it should certainly not be mine. I haven't seen the [illegible] thing in print. Louis's letter was my first notification that it had even reached New York. Glad to hear the 'Deacon' is prospering in his nefarious career - also about the volume of verse. Do you mind telling me who Spring Heel'd Jack & Athelred are? (not for publication of course - merely for curiosity) Burly I take to be you & Opalstein Gosse. You once told me the others but I've forgotten."
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